Explicit and Implicit Claims in a Text

Summary

This reading and writing skills class focuses on discerning explicit and implicit claims in texts, including claims of fact, value, and policy. It emphasizes critical reading to evaluate the legitimacy of information and the development of arguments. Explicit information is directly stated, while implicit requires inference. Claims of fact are verifiable statements, claims of policy suggest actions or solutions, and claims of value express judgments. The class also discusses how to support these claims with evidence and how critical readers assess them.

Takeaways

• 📚 This class focuses on improving reading and writing skills, particularly in understanding explicit and implicit claims in texts.
• 🔍 Critical reading involves not just gathering information, but also evaluating its importance and legitimacy by assessing the text's purpose, presentation, and argument development.
• 💡 Explicit information is directly stated in the text, while implicit information requires inference and reading between the lines.
• 📝 A claim is a statement that is not universally accepted and is often one-sided, serving as the central thesis in persuasive or argumentative writing.
• 📈 Claims of fact are verifiable statements that assert the existence or non-existence of something and are grounded in reliable authorities like science or history.
• 🛠️ Claims of policy argue for a course of action, suggesting modifications to procedures or laws to address a problem, and are supported by clear need, justification, and consideration of opposition.
• 🏅 Claims of value express judgments about the goodness, badness, desirability, or morality of something, often influenced by personal beliefs and preferences.
• 🔑 To support a claim of fact, one must use sufficient, reliable, and appropriate factual evidence.
• 🔍 When evaluating a claim of policy, consider if the author has convinced the audience of a problem's existence and the proposed solution's effectiveness.
• 🎯 For claims of value, establish the standards used to measure the topic's value and use credible authorities to support the judgment.

Q & A

What are the key properties of a well-written text discussed in the previous class?

The key properties of a well-written text discussed include organization, coherence, cohesion, language use, and mechanics.

What is the main focus of the current week's reading and writing skills class?

The main focus of the current week's class is to study explicit and implicit claims in written texts, including claims of fact, value, and policy.

What is the difference between explicit and implicit information in a text?

Explicit information is directly stated in the text, while implicit information is not directly stated and requires the reader to infer or read between the lines.

What is a claim in the context of reading and writing?

A claim is a statement that is not universally accepted and is usually related to one side of an issue. It can be a possession in persuasive or argumentative writing.

What are the three types of claims mentioned in the script?

The three types of claims mentioned are the claim of fact, claim of policy, and claim of value.

What is a claim of fact and how is it supported?

A claim of fact is a statement that can be verified and is grounded on reliable authority such as science or history. It is supported by factual evidence that is sufficient, reliable, and appropriate.

How does a claim of policy differ from a claim of fact?

A claim of policy argues that something should or should not be done, focusing on a course of action or problem-solution technique, unlike a claim of fact which is about verifiable statements.

What is a claim of value and how is it typically supported?

A claim of value asserts a judgment about whether something is good or bad, more or less desirable. It is supported by establishing standards for measuring the value and using examples and credible authorities.

How can a critical reader evaluate a claim of policy?

A critical reader evaluates a claim of policy by examining if a problem exists, if the proposed policy will fix it, and by considering opposition or counterarguments.

What questions should a critical reader ask to evaluate a claim of fact?

A critical reader should ask if the author's claim is backed by research findings, if a credible source of information was used, and if the data was accurately delivered or if it's the author's or reader's own conclusion.

How does the script illustrate the use of explicit and implicit information in a text?

The script illustrates explicit information through the mention of the tripling of obesity rates and the use of statistics as a reliable authority. Implicit information is shown by suggesting that the issue of obesity can be addressed through policy changes.